Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-09-20
A MILK TRAIN.
HIRAM n. srruurss SAVES Tnr plnr.

| HIRAM n. sItnntNs SAWS Iiit hAhts
my story" said the New YOsk man
"sn't BIT funny. Maybe some OF ycu
know Hiram Il. S,tbbirs' He'sin fea,h'
els, artificial flowers. ladies' notions, ha
trimming, and such. They do say ihs'
when be was young be was a real nie'
fellow, but bo,hsring with men milliref'
and women In the bonnet business. and
trying to keep Abrea., of the fashions,
,outd a naturally good temper, Well
Hiram Il. S,ebbins is no, bit 'oeisble
and sort Of chap to let alone. N,vs'
understood a joke Ia hi, life.
1--WE often crossed one another on the
road. bu, after saying. How dye, ,hat'
al the word. We exchanged. A year
ago me, him going wes, from Dubu.
que on = .ealding hO, day in July; ,her.
mome,sr away up ia the nine,is.. and
the car jus, in blaze; the car full and
. gres, many women sboard. jus, back
Of me wa. niee looking young woman,
dressed In deep mourning. and she held q
baby in her arms. wee. wee thing. and
ihs, child Was wailipg pi,iful. aud the
young women ". crying. i, was just
mite Of a child. puny.lOoking. add !
should Judge barely six weeks old. Back
Of her -, S,ebbins. looking a. cross ani
surly A. bear with sore head. ap-
pAren,ly annoyed by the cries Of that ba.
by. The womAn's back being turned 10
Hiram be couldn', sec she was crying.
OF started the train. and the dus, and
einder ,ified through in showers. Most
everybody seemed ercss. and Hiram ua-
commonly 80. There was no smoker on
the train. and We had 10 siAy in ihA, car.
That baby, crying bothered me. ss !,
did everybody else. Turning around, !
saw the young woman taking nursing
bottle out Of basket. then small earth
enware Jug. and she uneoiked u. l,
was full Of milk. and she began TO tll the
nursing bottle. A drop Of milk fell on
her hand. and she tasted IL. then looked
very much distressed. She pa, back
the nursing bottle, aud the jug in the
basket again. and didn', feed the baby.
".wha, on earth shall | doF heard
her say. The milk i. as sour as vinegar
and will kill the ehild.' snd she began to
cry again. no, loud like the baby. bu,
the tear. jus, s,reAmed down her pale
cheeks. Then Hiram H. Siebbin. jus,
shook kim.elfup. and leaned forward aud
said TO the young woman. Kind Of eres'
like:
"'Your infant. maamr
"Oh. no. sir. !, was my poor sisters.
and she died week ago-died OF brok-
en- heart. because her husband. this liz.
lie bsby's father. Was killed on rail-
road = few days before the baby was
born. a.. = delicate child. and half
starved. and the ho, weather has turned
the milk sour. wha, am | TO do, am
trying to carry the poor little child some
hundred miles further to my mother. and
IL | can't feed IL l, will die before ge,
TO the end Of my journey. IL. 80 feeble
now Then she sobbed Affrsh and the
baby sObbed. too
"HirAm Is. Sisbbins didn', sly any
thing for fully minute. then he so, up
and came to me and said he. Family
mani told him wasn't. Then he
81, down snd fige,sd; then be 70, up
suddenly, looked srOurd him. and went
into Tie nex, car and then through the
whole train. by and by he came back.
aud said be: No, darned one on the
train
"'No, wha, ?" inquired.
"a woman nursing her baby. Gen.
trslly they are ever 20 plenty. jus, when
you don't want EN-
"'Ard you would have asked a
strange woman you never saw before
,o-,o-nure that ehildr l asked,
astonishsd.
"'why should l not , aid S',bbin'
simply.
"Ihsn the conductor came. and Bill
wen, for him at once when does this
train s,op-,he frt place. ! mssn' ask
ell Si,bbins
"'Thir,y.eigh, miles from here
"'whs, Kind Of place p! asked S,eb-
bins. amy rfre'hmsnts ?
"'None. no, bai even. Wood aud
water
"'No chance Of milk
"'Nary chance
".Any milk cans on this train ?
"'Noi one.
"'Bui there's baby on board this
train iha, wants milk
"'This ain, no baby nor milk train.
as | knows Of. said thA, conductor In
differently.
"'You'rs a blasted heather. any yhow,
cried Bill. This train has 20, TO sop,
for am bound to get some milk fcr that
baby
"'No, much. Behind time now. aud
hadn't you better ksepa civil tongue in
your jaws, Otherwise, you're likely to
se, them jaws brOke. aud likewise pat od
the cars.'
"The talk OF the two Was 90 loud and
threatening. that some Of the passengers
heard il. Jumping upon one Of the seats
Hiram addressed the passenger. La.
dies and gentlemen, said he. but most
especially ladies. ! want your kidd A..
,en,ion. On this train-in this car
there Is a little baby whose mother is
Just dead. That baby Is going to perish
righ, here before your eye. for the wan,
Of drop Of milk. Here isa conductor
Who won't stop this train so as to save
the life Of that poor little child. put
|, to you-shall this train stop, 30 that !
can get some milk. or are you willing
,hs, the baby should die. oil on account
Of lunk head Of q conductor ,"
".By jsbsn Dime wid you and the
young woman livery toime.' said big
Irishman.
"'Dst is jous so. chimsd in Ger
man. Then al the women joined in =
chorus, and cried shame! shame!